Stepping closer to the concept of ‘one nation, one tax’, Rajya Sabha passed the Goods & Services Tax (GST) Bill. The constitutional amendment will enable both the Centre and the states to simultaneously levy the GST, which will include all indirect taxes currently levied, including excise duties and service tax.

Coal India (CIL) has identified five Opencast projects to be developed through Mine Developer and Operator (MDO)route. The aggregate estimated capacity of these projects is 22 million tonne per year (mty), said the Union Minister of State for Coal Pratik PrakashBapu Patil in Rajya Sabha on August 26.

Union mines Minister Dinsha Patel said in Rajya Sabha that the output of copper rose 1.1 per cent to 6.92 lakh tonne in 2012-13 from 6.84 lakh tonne copper a year ago. In 2010-11, India produced 6.64 lakh tonne of copper
The country imports copper ore concentrate to meet the domestic demand and its refining capacity is more than dom

There has been an increase in India's coal production and supply during 2012-13. In 2012-13, the domestic production was 557.707 million tonne and the total domestic supply of coal was 569.767 million tonne, says a government of India report.

The Union government notified the auction of mining leases on February 2 in 2012 under the amended provisions of Section 11 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957) (MMDR Act).

Minister of State for Coal, Pratik PrakashBapu Patil informed Rajya Sabha that the Indian government was promoting R&D activities in coal & lignite sectors for improving efficiency and efficacy of coal. Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) is responsible for R&D activities in coal & lignite sectors, the minister said

The Union Minister of State for Coal Pratik PrakashBapu Patil has recently said in the Rajya Sabha that the Coal India (CIL) has been meeting more than 90 per cent of its supply commitment as against the annual plan target finalised by the Ministry of Coal/Planning Commission. The gap between demand and supply of coal in the country is to be met through coal imports, he added.